No need to lie down to sleep: Japan launches giraffenap standing nap pod
A 20-minute standing nap and four-point support design — giraffenap hopes to redefine office rest culture.
Summary
- Japan has launched the world’s first standing nap pod, giraffenap, which uses a four-point support design so users can take a roughly 20-minute power nap while standing.
- The product was developed by Hokkaido KOYOJU Plywood using Hokkaido hardwood plywood, combined with ITOKI’s open patent. It now comes in different series such as SPACIA, FOREST and YOHAKU, and has been introduced into offices, medical facilities, childcare centers and accommodation spaces.
- giraffenap aims to promote a “20-minute nap culture,” treating rest as part of improving concentration, creativity and work efficiency rather than a sign of laziness.
If, in the future, your company’s perks included a nap pod where you could sleep standing up instead of free coffee, would you be willing to step inside?
Japan’s giraffenap challenges the idea that sleep has to happen lying down. Resembling a phone booth, this standing nap pod allows users to take a short yet effective break in about 20 minutes, with the aim of changing established perceptions of “napping” in the office.
Sleeping standing up means more than just closing your eyes while standing
images from/giraffenap
giraffenap’s design was inspired by the moment many people experience while dozing on their commute, when their knees suddenly buckle. The development team wondered: Since people can briefly fall asleep while standing, could they create a space truly suited to resting upright?
giraffenap therefore uses an ergonomic four-point support system that supports the head, hips, calves, and soles of the feet, distributing body weight evenly. Even with the muscles fully relaxed, users can remain in a stable standing position. According to the company, this posture helps users enter the light sleep state suited to a power nap, prevents them from sleeping too long, and makes grogginess less likely upon waking.
More space-efficient than a bed, and better suited to offices
images from/giraffenap
Compared with nap spaces that require a separate break room or beds, giraffenap has a footprint of about 1.2 square meters, similar to a small phone booth. In addition to its standing support system, the pod is equipped with lighting, ventilation, soundproofing, and privacy features, and can be installed anywhere with a power supply.
The product is currently available in several versions, including SPACIA, FOREST, and the rental model YOHAKU. SPACIA has a futuristic all-white exterior, while FOREST is made from natural wood, allowing users to choose a design that suits the atmosphere of their space.
What it aims to change is not sleep posture, but the rhythm of work
images from/giraffenap
giraffenap’s goal is not to encourage employees to sleep during work hours, but to establish a “20-minute nap culture.” The company says short breaks can help relieve fatigue, reduce stress, and improve concentration, memory, and creativity. It also hopes to encourage businesses to rethink the relationship between rest and productivity.
Beyond offices, giraffenap has also been introduced at some medical facilities, childcare centers, and lodging facilities, allowing night-shift healthcare workers, caregivers, and people who work long hours to quickly recharge during brief breaks. Starting in 2025, ITOKI will also officially join its sales network, with the hope of bringing the equipment to more workplaces through corporate channels.
Future offices may really have room for an extra nap pod
images from/giraffenap
From standing desks and phone booth-style meeting rooms to today’s standing nap pods, office spaces are constantly redefining the boundary between work and rest. giraffenap may seem a little hard to believe, yet the problem it truly seeks to solve is not “how to sleep standing up,” but how to help people feel at ease taking a 20-minute break amid the busy pace of work. Perhaps the ideal kind of productivity in the future will not mean working longer, but knowing when to take a proper rest.
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